Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset with 7.1 Surround

3/19/2015 update I noticed part of the plastic where the swivel on the right earmuff is has cracked, most likely due to one of the occasions that I have knocked it off my desk. Still holds together thanks to several screws, however. The rubber layer on the ear cushions has been peeling like crazy and will no doubtedly soon be gone entirely; it may be time to replace the cushions. Initial connection of the headset dongle still has that weird connect/disconnect cycle issue. Don't know where the problem lies; it happens no matter what port into which the dongle is attached and no matter what version the software is (reinstalling the driver doesn't resolve it, either). Additionally, rarely the headset will lose connection with the dongle and take a few seconds to reconnect. This has happened mid-conversation and is unnoticeable until I hear it reconnect and realize what I was saying the last few seconds didn't go through. Otherwise, all the benefits are still there -- incredibly crystal clear audio quality with fantastic bass response, microphone is far better than expected with noise cancelling, wireless range and battery life hold up very well, software is very useful and allows for many different configurations for the 3 G keys. It will take a serious game-changer to cause me to replace this thing. <3 |||||||||||||||||||||| 2/10/2014 Amendment |||||||||||||||||||||| Still using this headset daily, and I still love it. Audio/mic/construction quality has held up 100%; no damage/breaking has occurred in any form or fashion; range still holds up supremely well (going through several walls); charge still lasts a good 10 hours. The only downsides are still the cushions (they could be softer, but they are still effective), and initial connection glitches, which are a very minor issue. When I connect the receiver, Windows goes through a cycle of it connecting/disconnecting maybe 3-6 times for a few seconds until it finally settles down. After that, there are no connection problems whatsoever. 5/5 will always recommend forever |||||||||||||||||||||| 5/10 Amendment |||||||||||||||||||||| I wanted to point out something that several customers have mentioned. It is indeed true that the cushions surrounding the earmuffs on this headset may tend to rest on pressure points just behind the jaw. While I can (and usually do) adjust them so they don't, I have noticed this occurring if I just throw them on without thinking twice. The cushions are not stiff; they are very soft, but the placement of the earmuffs may cause a little tension behind the jaw for some, which may feel uncomfortable. Just a heads up to potential buyers. |||||||||||||||||||||| 4/27 Amendment |||||||||||||||||||||| The new software for the headset (v 1.00.364) addresses noise cancellation, and by that I mean the headset now does noise cancelling! This headset is now perfect. :) * * WARNING Fairly lengthy review ahead. Proceed at your own risk! * * I owned a wireless headset prior to this one, the ASUS HS-1000w (oddly enough before it was even on their own website and I could find absolutely ZERO support for it anywhere), and it was great for what it did. However, over time and use, the dongle shorted out and part of the headset where the swivel starts began breaking (this is a common occurrence) -- for both the original and the RMA replacement. So I searched for totally new headset as replacement, and I came across Logitech's G930 and F540 and had to decide between the two. Since at the time the F540 was about $150 and the G930 was on sale at $120 ($119.99 when purchased, $117.99 at the time of this writing), the choice was obvious. I have owned the G930 headset for about a week, and here are my thoughts. The package comes with the headset, the dongle, the REALLY COOL rounded charging base (that has inlets that hold the two extra long cables [a WONDERFUL welcome after the obnoxiously short charging cable for the HS-1000w], one for USB and one for USB micro, which plugs into the headset) with its own USB port (which is a REALLY nice feature so I don't have to unnecessarily occupy an extra port to charge and use), and the software CD. The software CD does come with the up-to-date stable software, the same that can be downloaded from the Logtech website. And as an additional note, the USB port on the charging base acts as any regular old USB port, so if I want to charge the headset but use the port on the base for a flash drive or external hard drive or anything else, I have no limits! (...Well, except that I can only use one device in the base at a time.) * * [[SEE AMENDMENT AT END OF REVIEW ABOUT BASE]] * * The description claims 10 hours of battery, and I have yet to use up all 10 of these, but I will say that I have used it for several hours countless times so far and have yet to hear the "low battery" notification that plays through the headset. What's more, the software gives me a meter and number measurement of how much battery remains or, when charging, how long until fully charged. Very nice! The software allows adjustment of volume, microphone, Sidetone, and treble and bass levels without touching the equalizer, which can be turned on and off. It also has built-in voice morphing with a "voice preview" option and pitch calibration levels, so you deep talkers won't have it throwing virtual question marks at your unexpectedly low voices. The software also has a surround sound mixer, allowing adjustment of the volume levels for each individual speaker. And lastly, the software has customization for the headset's G-keys, allowing each of the 3 buttons to have a wide range of functionality, from voice morphing to controlling music to push-to-talk to allowing you to select specific functions for unlisted applications! Sound Quality: When in stereo mode, the sound quality is fantastic. The bass is just the right amount -- not too much, not too little. The treble is of the same caliber, and even if they were not the appropriate levels, the software that comes with it (actually very well-made software, too, despite what some people have said) has an equalizer to adjust audio levels. Now, I'm not a surround sound aficionado, but when in 7.1 mode, things sound a little like I am in a tin can. After a while I get used to it and can distinguish between the 7 different speakers, but at first it's strange -- and it affects voices as well, so if I am in a game using 7.1 and talking with someone, they are strangely echoey. Nonetheless, the actual sound quality while in 7.1 mode is, just like stereo mode, excellent. I did notice that 7.1 mode seems to have slightly boosted output levels than stereo mode, and have found most of my games' sounds have occasionally peaked, causing some crackling and distortion. This would normally be a problem if irremediable, but turning down the application volume (not the volume of Windows) corrects this. Guess they got a little overzealous about sound output for surround mode, eh? Microphone quality: The ASUS had decent microphone quality, but one big problem I noticed is it seemed to have a threshold for the higher frequencies, and it was VERY noticeable. I have had no such microphone problems with the G930 so far, and in fact almost no microphone problems whatsoever. The sound quality is superb, easily picking up my fairly deep voice. It seems that when the headset is turned on each time, its "Sidetone" (hearing your own voice in real-time) feature is activated, but very slight. If I'm in a game, it is unnoticeable, but if I am talking on VoIP, it is somewhat of a nuisance. However, once again the software saves the day, as it allows total adjustment of the Sidetone level from 100% to 0%. The mic swivels up and down about 120 degrees and makes zero noise when adjusting, and the material the tip is made of allows adjustment nearer or further from the mouth. And one thing I think is a very, VERY nice feature is when the microphone is lifted to standby (upright) position, it automatically mutes itself. VERY cool feature, Logitech! No more lifting the microphone and having to worry whether I muted it or not when talking to my friends or family! As an additional note, some users have reported sound quality problems, such as popping or crackling or the like. I currently reside in a college dorm and have had no problems whatsoever with interference. But if such interference does occur, go to the Logitech website and download the Beta software for this headset; most people claim it fixes the problems. Noise isolation: The only real complaint I have about this headset is Logitech claims it has a noise-cancelling microphone, but I can hear all ambient noises around me clear as day whenever I listen to what my mic records. However, the voice morphing choices that come with the software have noise-cancellation when activated. I'm not sure why this is, but it doesn't really bother me. Range: The headset claims 40 feet wireless range but I have not tested this in a viable environment (too many walls here). Although I will say that, when walking down the hall with these on, they retain a signal somewhat further than the ASUS did, which claimed ~33 feet wireless range. Nonetheless, 40 feet is more than enough for my purposes. Style: At first glance, the headset is, honestly, a beautiful device. The soft material over the earmuffs and the headband does not attract fingerprints easily, and the cushions are just the right softness. The button placement is good, with volume/mute/G-keys on the outside of the left earpiece, and the power/7.1 switch on the back of the left earpiece. It took a little getting used to, but once so, it is very easy to use. The boom microphone has a neat-looking angle to it, if I may say, and the earmuffs swivel forward slightly but can swivel 90 degrees back. The volume roller is very effective; instead of clicking a button to adjust volume in levels, I can slide my finger along the roller and volume levels can jump, but at the same time I can only roll it one or two notches and the volume adjusts slightly. This allows for quick but VERY precise adjustments that can be tailored to suit anybody's needs. Durability: In the duration I have had it, I have treated it like a baby, so I cannot say how well it stands up to rough handling. However, I will point out that the headset does feel very durable and very solid, having a little more weight to it than one would expect but not in a bad way. Fitment: The soft-cushioned headband on the headset can have its length adjusted to fit virtually any side head, and what's neat is there are numbered notches on the sliders, so I can precisely measure how much each side can be adjusted. Mine is currently set to 4 on each side, the smallest size being 0, which technically is not labeled since the lowest notch is 1, so I consider 0 the point where the sliders are entirely closed. The earpieces have the same soft cushioning that completely surround my ears, closing off all external sound and only allowing me to hear what comes out of the speakers on the headset. Some people say the headset pushes on some major pressure points around the ears, but I have not had this problem at all. OVERALL: This is a very fine, very well-made product from Logitech. I have always regarded them very highly, as being one of the most prominent hardware manufacturers for any type of person, and they surely do not disappoint with the Logitech G930 wireless 7.1 gaming headset. Logitech certainly took many obvious and common ideas into consideration when designing the hardware as well as software for this marvelous piece of handiwork, and it shows. I give this headset a rating of 9.8 out of 10. Keep up the amazing work, Logitech! Amendments: While some people may find this headset's power save feature (automatically shut off headset after 15 minutes of no audio) annoying, I find it a life-saver. Considering the fact a headset is intended to be used whenever there is audio, this isn't a nuisance at all but in fact it saves me having to worry about having the battery unintentionally drained if I set it down but leave it turned on. Also, I wanted to leave a follow-up about the docking base's USB port. It won't make much of a difference to most people, but I noticed the opening for the port is somewhat thinner than most USB devices. It's the perfect size for the headset's dongle, but most other USB plugs really won't fit -- I've tried it with a cell phone charger, several flash drives, and none of them were able to fit securely and snugly down into the actual port. Like I said, not really a big deal, since it is intended for the dongle.